BA in History
Groningen, Netherlands
BA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English, Dutch
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 May 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 14,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Dutch, EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students
** non-EU/EEA | EU/EEA: € 2695/year
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
Have you ever thought about what connects the past with the present? And would you like to learn more about the background to various historic events? If so, this is your program!
As a student in the international track of the Bachelor's degree program in History, you search for explanations of events that took place in the past and are still relevant today. You learn about the connections between various developments, and you're encouraged to dig deeper and ask critical questions.
The program takes three years. In the first year, you are given an overview of history from Antiquity to the present day, and you study Dutch history. In the second year, you examine history on the basis of various themes, such as economic and social history, political culture and cultural history. The third year, which includes a course unit on the theory of history, is used to deepen your knowledge. Your Bachelor's program is rounded off with a thesis. As a history student, you are free to compile part of the program yourself.
You can study for a Bachelor's degree in History on a full-time or a part-time basis, but there is no specific part-time program. All classes in the international track of the History program are in English.
Research
Teaching and research are closely interwoven at the university. All professors and most of the lecturers who teach your course units are also conducting research in their own subject fields. This means that your classes will be partly based on the Faculty’s current research.
- Our program teaches you to write about history, to conduct independent research, and to apply historical knowledge and theory in practice
- We introduce you to social, economic, political and cultural history, as well as regional & global history
- We offer many choices because of our teachers' broad expertise in regions, approaches and themes. From Ancient to Contemporary History
- We are a large department, but we offer small-scale teaching in which you quickly get to know staff & students
Job prospects
After completing your degree in History, you will be able to think critically, with a focus on problems. You will also be able to process large amounts of information and present the results clearly. Historians often find work in journalism and in museums, cultural institutions or publishing houses. Many of them go into politics, the government or business.
Job examples
- Government policy officer
- Spokesperson for a mayor
- Exhibition organizer
- Journalist
- Reseacher
- Lecturer or teacher
Year 1
In the first year, chronological course units cover the most important events and developments from Antiquity down to the present day. You will also work on your academic research and writing skills and learn about historical sources and the theories behind the study of history. In short, the first year is very diverse and gives you a solid basis for the rest of the programme.
Courses
- Ancient History (5 EC)
- Globalisation: Economic & Social History (5 EC)
- Historical Research I: Introduction (5 EC)
- Contemporary History (5 EC)
- Historical Research II: Skills (5 EC)
- Medieval History (5 EC)
- Dutch History (5 EC)
- Early Modern History (5 EC)
- Historical Research III: Historical Debate (5 EC)
- Historical Research IV: Sources (5 EC)
- Modern History (5 EC)
- Regions I: Introduction (5 EC)
Year 2
After studying history in a chronological order in the first year, the second year teaches you to approach history from a thematic perspective. You will learn about three 'types' of history, each with its own emphasis and theory: cultural history, history of political culture, and economic and social history.
Courses
- Sources and Methods (5 EC)
- Theme Political History (10 EC)
- Theme Cultural History (10 EC)
- Theory 1: Perspectives on History (5 EC)
- Regions II: Historiography (5 EC)
- Theme Economic and Social History (10 EC)
- Research Seminar (10 EC)
- Theory II: History of World History (5 EC)
Year 3
In the third year you will address one of these themes in more detail. The core module forms the heart of this third year. A core module is a seminar in which you acquire content-related information and research skills by studying literature and source material. This results in an independent research project with a presentation and a long paper. Your Bachelor's concludes with a thesis and possibly a placement.
Courses
- Minor (30 EC)
- Theory 3: Theory of History in Practice (5 EC)
- BA Thesis History (10 EC)
- Regions III: Case Studies (10 EC)
- Workshop Public History (5 EC)
Study abroad
- Study abroad is recommended
- For an average of 16 weeks
- Maximum of 30 EC
Please note that the above is the program for the current academic year (2025-2026). From 2026-2027, the courses of this program will change. More will be announced in Spring 2026.